EVANSTON, IL (April 23, 2014) – With the overwhelmingly successful response to their recently launched Kickstarter campaign, which met their $15,000 crowd-funding goal in just five days, Evanston’s Sketchbook Brewing Company sets its sights on more green – this time the Earth-friendly kind.
Sketchbook’s just-announced "Sustainability Plus" Kickstarter goal is to raise $25,000 by May 10th, which would allow the startup to purchase sustainable equipment for the building, which is located off the alley at 825 Chicago Ave. The heat exchanger and cold water tank they hope to fund would help reduce their carbon footprint by conserving energy and water at Evanston’s first Community Supported Nanobrewery.
“Local brewing is already a green enterprise -- reducing transportation, refrigeration, bottling, and other pollution-contributing processes -- but the new equipment would allow us to be as green as possible from the get-go,” said one of Sketchbook’s principal owners, Shawn Decker.
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If the “stretch goal” becomes fully funded, Sketchbook will purchase a large cold water tank to use for chilling fermentors and cooling hot wort as it moves from the boil stage to fermentation temperatures. A cold-water reservoir will allow Sketchbook to reuse this water in a closed system which recirculates, saving both water and energy.
The second purchase will be a heat exchanger on the outside of the brewery, which would allow Sketchbook to take advantage of Chicago’s seasonal weather. By pumping water to be heated or cooled through this exchanger, the brewery would utilize ambient temperatures to cool the cold water in winter and pre-heat water in the summer. This will decrease the usage of natural gas and electricity--and will substantially reduce the carbon footprint of Sketchbook beer.
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Through Kickstarter, donors may give money in exchange for merchandise and acclaim ranging from keychain bottle openers, T-shirts and limited edition ceramic ½ gallon ‘growlers’, to VIP tours of the brewery, a chance to be brewer for a day, or to inscribe their name on the “Local Hero” wall.
Sketchbook invites Kickstarter supporters to join them May 9th when they’ll be pouring samples and hoping to celebrate a successful conclusion to their Kickstarter campaign at King George Studio & Gallery, 1402.5 Greenleaf, Evanston.
Sketchbook Brewing Company is a Nanobrewery which will produce finely-crafted, small-batch beers for local consumption, with a focus on fine, ‘session’ beers, low in alcohol and calories. Anticipated to open in summer of 2014, Sketchbook will be Evanston, Illinois’ first Community Sponsored Nanobrewery and will offer tastings and fill ½ gallon growlers at a discount for walk-in or bike-in customers. Bringing beer directly to the people minimizes waste and reduces transportation needs, helping Sketchbook achieve two of its main objectives, community and sustainability. Sketchbook is located off the alley behind 825 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois. For more information about what’s on tap for Sketchbook, visit on the web at www.sketchbookbrewing.com.
